Radiator enclosure



June 27, 1950 T. o. MARIN] 2,513,036

' RADIATOR ENCLOSURE Filed Nov. 1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 790m; 0. MA R/N/ BY WWW June 27, 1950 T. o. MARIN] 2,513,036

RADIATOR ENCLOSURE Filed Nov. 1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS 0. MA Rl/V/ BY A.

HAS A 7'7'0RNEV Patented June 27, 1950 RADIATOR EN CLOSURE Thomas Marini, Camden; N. L, assignor to Marver Metal: Mg.. 00., acorporation of Dela ware Application November 1, 1946, Scrial'N'o. 70711221 8;Glaims.

The present application is a; continuation in part of my prior application filed October 1 1, 1946, Serial No. 702,737, relating to improvements in a radiator enclosure.

The invention relates to radiator enclosures or covers which completely house the radiator, and more particularly to an enclosure of the knockdown type.

Because of the bulk or a radiator enclosure, it is common practice to construct it of parts readily assembled. This construction effects economies in packaging, storage-space,- shipment, etc. However, it has certain disadvantages in that at the place of installation, unskilled. labor is often employed whichfr quently introduces an assembly problem, particularly if tools are required.

It is an object of the present invention-to provide a radiatorenclosure of theknock-downtype, characterized by simplicity of construction, ease of assembly with respect to time and tools required, etc.

Another object is the provision of aradiator enclosurehavingend panelsprooi'ded with means for interlocking'with the front and rear walls, whereby interIocki-ng connections are formed between the wall" components and the end panels upon assembly of the enclosure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a radiator" enclbsureso constructed that the component parts thereof are rigidly secured to..- gether by interlocking joints completed upon the assembly of said parts, which assembly maybe made withouttheuse of tools.

Another object of the invention isthe provision of a radiator enclosure having end panels, each of which is provided with a rounded corner and an angular corner, the rounded corner being adapted to accommodate a bracket member having means for clamping the front" wall to the bracket, and the angular corner having means adapted to engage-clampingmeans onthe rear wall, said clamping'means becoming effective by forming interlockingjoi'nts when the component parts of the enclosure are assembled.

A special object of the inventionis the provision of a bracket device that may be formed as a unit by a die operation and pro-fabricated" as part of an end sectionadapted to formaninterlocking joint with a, wall section by-merely'bringing the interlocking portions into engagement with a snap movement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent'as the description proceeds;

For-a full and morecomplete understandingof 2! the invention, reference may be -had to the-fol"- lowi ng description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1' is a perspective-view of theassembled radiator enclosure;

Figure 2 is a t0p-p1an View, with partsbroken away; of the enclosure;

Figure 3 is' a verticalsection taken onthel'ine 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4" is a fragmentaryhorizontal sectional View, takenalong -the-line l' -fibfFighi e-S; and

Figure 5- isa fragmentary view" in elevation, show-inga corner rest" member for the top 'ofi the enclosure.

The radiator: enclosure herein contemplated may be formed 01? separate parts made of sheet steel orother suitable material The enclosure comprises a topd, a front and'rear'wall z and 3, respectively; and end'panels tand 5 These-parts are normally disassembled to save storage and shipping space. However, at theplace ofihstallatimi, they maybe readily: assembled: by an "unskilled person and without the use of tools.

The front'wall z may comprise a-fi'r-ame formed bytop and bottom-rai l's l and-Al respeetively,.which are secured at thei-r ends toangle pieces'9 and "I. A grill section 5 may: be suitably secured to thi's frameby spot welding or: the like. Itwill be noted that the outsideedges of the-rails 6; and I and angle pieces 9 and I 05 are provided with flanges bent ate-an angle of substantially ninety degrees. Attention: maybe directed to the fact that the height oiithe end panelsa 4 and his some.- what greater than: the width or: thewalled audits, so that said wallsa'maybe supported fromsaid panels: free trom: the fioor;.. which. arrangement will become: apparentlas:thedescription. proceeds.

The end panels. 4*: and: shaver rounded corners Hi and Hirespectiizeltf; and QEIChIiS? provided withxa bracketmem'ber, indicated generally lav.thez-reiiier. enoe character; 1:3; This bracket memberfmaybe formed of. a. single piece of sheetrmetal'haviimi a body section I4; which terminates irvside. portions [5 and- IB; bent; attan. obtuse angle toathebod'y section M1. The. bracket-.member 113; is. designed to fitrinto; the rounded. corners H; and: I52: of-..the end; panels 4 and.5;,andz-theangularityof: the side portions l5; and. t6; withrespect "to ztheibndyzpor tion is. roughly determinea the. spacing of the bracket from saidicorners. That istosay; the less obtuse the angle of displacementof' the? side portions l5 and: It to: the'body section. I54; the closer the bracket may-be placed with; respect to the rounded corners; and vice versa, the more obtuse this angle, the fizrther away will the bracket be located. Therefore, the geometry and dimensions of the bracket elements are important factors in designing the bracket from the standpoint of securing optimum results.

It will be noted that the body section M of the bracket 13 may be regarded as a strut member joining the side portions l5 and 16. The side portion I6 is of greater length than the side por tion [5, inasmuch as the edge thereof is provided with a flange I! reversely bent upon itself to form a groove l8, which arrangement constitutes a clip adapted to receive the flange IQ of the pieces 9 and In of the front wall 2.

It will be seen that theconstruction of the bracket l3 readily lends itself. to a die stamping operation, and the bracket may be suitably welded to the end panels as a pre-fabricating step. From that standpoint, no assembly of the bracket is required as part of the installation of the radiator enclosure. The location of the brackets I3 within the rounded corners of the several end panels is important in that the bracket is so mounted that the edge of the flange 29, extending laterally from the front wall 2, functions as This will of the panels 4 and 5, thus providing an extension which. produces an over-lapping of the adjacent edges when the flange IQ of the front wall is inserted into the groove I8 of the clip 20. As an expedient to insure a snug fit of the flange 19 within the clip 20, the free or projecting edges of the panels are each provided with a rolledover portion forming a bead which is designed to function as a pivotal point in holding the front wall Zparallel to the rear wall 3 when the front; wall is locked into engagement with the clips 20.

A somewhatsimilar clip construction for interlocking the rear wall 3 to the inner ends of panels 4 and 5, may take the form of continuing the body portion of said panels rearwardly and forming an angular corner by bending the end of the body portion at substantially right angle, thus forming a rear side wall 2| to the several panels. A flange 22 is formed at right angle to the side wall 2| of each of said panels, by bending the edge of said wall inwardly. The flange 22 is preferably bent at an angle slightly obtuse to the face of the rear wall 3. A bracket element 23, consisting of a piece of sheet metal, and having one of its edges reversely bent upon itself to form a groove24, constitutes a-clip 25, similar to the clip 20. It will be noted that the inturned face of the bracket 23 and the flange 22 are inclined to form complementary angles, which is a simple expedient for insuring a tight sliding engagement between the roove 24 and the flange 22.

The bracket 23 may be spot welded to the rear wall3 and relatively positioned thereon so that when said wall is secured in place, by inserting the flanges 22 into the channelway of the clip 25, there will not only be a tight or interlocking connection therebetween, but said bracket also will function as a stop for engaging an inwardly formed flange 26, (see Fig. 3) whereby the wall 3 will be supported at the same height from the floor as that of the front wall 2.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 5, it will be noted that the rounded corners l l and I2 of the end panels 4 and 5 are each provided with a flanged rest plate 21. The plates 21 project outwardly from said corners and are shaped to permit the fitting of the edge flange portion :28 of the top I thereover, when the top is in place. By having the rest plates 23 project over the rounded corner of the end panels, said plates constitute a support for the top 1. As is customary, the top I may have a filler of sheet asbestos (not shown) held in place by any suitable retaining means, such as lugs or clipsa In the assembly of the radiator enclosure, one of the end panels may be set up vertically and an end of the wall section 2 locked onto the bracket 13 by inserting the flange [9 into engagement with the groove l8. This may be effected by slightly twisting or tilting the wall 2 inwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4. Upon insertion of the flange l9 into the groove N3, the wall 2 is moved forwardly and the flange thus becomes tightly clamped in the clip 29, forming an interlocking joint. The outward movement of the wall 2'ifis limited by its engagement with the beaded edge 39. In a similar manner, the other end panel is locked to the opposite end of the wall 2. With the two end panels now hinged to the front wall 2 by interlocking engagement therewith, the rear panel 3 may be attached in place.

-With the front wall 2 locked in place, it is a simple operation to insert the flange 22 into the clip 25, by merely holding the rear wall 3 over said clip so that the flange 22 may be inserted in the groove 24, and then pushing downwardly on the rear wall 3, until the flange 26 engages the top edge of the bracket 23. The channelways provided by the oppositely disposed clips 25 will thus receive the flanges '22 and rigidly lock the wall 3 into position. v I

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the assembly of the radiator enclosure may be made without the use of tools. Due to the simplicity of construction, no skill whatever is required on the part of the person making the assembly, and it is obvious that it may be done within a very short time.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention are hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described because various modifications of the details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a radiator enclosure of the character described, the combination with top, front, and rear walls, of an .end panel having a corner formed on a radius providing said panel with a front and a side portion, said side portion extending rearwardly, and terminating in a corner having an inwardly turned flange, a bracket member adapted to flt within said first-mentioned rounded corner, said bracket member comprising a body section having angularly disposed edge portions, a clip formed upon the vertical edge of one of said bracket portions, said clip being adapted to receive a flange projecting inwardly from the vertical edge of the front wall, a second clip element mounted adjacent a vertical edge of said rear wall and adapted to engage said inwardly turned flange formed on the rearward extension of said panel, whereby when said clips engage said flanges, the front and rear walls are interlocked with said end panel.

2. In a radiator enclosure of the character described, the combination with top, front, and rear walls, of an end panel having a rounded corner and an angular corner, said rear wall being provided on an end thereof with a vertically arranged clip member, a bracket member fitted within the rounded corner of said panel, said bracket member having a clip formed along one of its edges, said front wall being provided on an end thereof with a vertically arranged flange, an inwardly turned flange formed adjacent said angular corner, said flanges when inserted within said clips being adapted to interlock the front and rear walls with said end panel.

3. In a radiator enclosure of the character described, the combination with top, front, and rear walls, of an end panel having a corner formed on a radius and being provided with a bracket member adapted to fit within said corner, a flange on said front wall, said bracket having a, clip adapted to engage with said flange on the front wall, said panel also comprising a flange formed along the edge of an inwardly turned reversely bent extension, a second clip element mounted adjacent a vertical edge of said rear wall and adapted to engage said last-mentioned flange, said clips and flanges being adapted to interlock and rigidly secure the component parts of the radiator enclosure together.

4. In a radiator enclosure of the character described, the combination with top, front, and rear walls, of an end panel provided with a rounded corner and an angular corner, a flange on said front wall, a bracket member fitted within said rounded corner and having a clip formed along the outer vertical edge thereof, and adapted to engage said flange, a second clip element mounted in proximity to a vertical edge of said rear wall, a flange extending inwardly from said angular corner and adapted to engage said second clip element, said clips and flanges when in engagement constituting means for interlocking the front and rear walls to the end panel.

5. A radiator enclosure of the character described, including in combination, front and rear walls connected by an interlocking end panel, said connections comprising a first bracket member and a second bracket member each provided with a clip element, said first bracket member being secured in a corner of said panel, said second bracket member being secured along the vertical edge of said rear wall, a flange formed along the vertical edge of said front wall, a flange formed along the rear edge of said panel, the arrangement of said flanges with respect to said clip elements being such that when brought into engagement they form interlocking joints which may be completed merely by the relative movement of said component parts.

6. In a radiator enclosure of the character described, including in combination, front and rear walls connected by an interlocking end panel provided with a rounded corner and an angular corner, a first bracket member being secured in said rounded corner and having its vertical edge terminate in a clip element, a second bracket being secured along the vertical edge of said rear wall and having its vertical edge terminate in a clip element, a flange formed along the vertical edge of said front wall and adapted to engage with said first clip element by a relative twisting move ment of said wall and said panel, an inwardly bent flange formed along the vertical edge of said angular corner, said second flange being adapted to be inserted within said second clip element by a relative sliding movement between said rear wall and said panel, whereby during the assembly of the component parts of the radiator enclosure interlockin joints may be completed without the use of tools.

7. In a radiator enclosure of the class described, the combination with top, front, and rear walls, of end panels, said end panels being of greater height than the height of either the front or rear walls, whereby when said front and rear walls are supported by said end panels they are free of the floor, at least one of said end panels being provided with a rounded corner and an angular corner, a bracket member adapted to fit within said rounded corner and having its vertical edge terminate in a clip element, said bracket and panel constituting a -pre-fabricated unit, the positioning of said bracket with respect to said rounded corner being such that the top edge of the bracket supports the front wall substantially flush with the top edge of the panel, a flange on said front wall, a second flange projectin inwardly from the vertical edge of the angular corner of said panel, a second bracket member being secured along the vertical edge of said rear wall and having its vertical edge terminate in a second clip element, said second clip being adapted to receive said second flange, said first flange being adapted to engage with said first clip element by a relative twisting movement of said front wall and said panel, said second flange being adapted to be inserted within said second clip element by a relative sliding movement between said rear wall and said panel, whereby during the assembly of the component parts of the radiator enclosure interlocking joints are thereby completed.

8. A radiator enclosure comprising front and rear walls joined by interlocking end panels, each of said panels comprising a side wall portion, a front portion and a rounded corner intermediate said side and front portions; a bracket secured to the side wall portion of at least one of said end panels, and projecting toward said front portion in a manner substantially to subtend said rounded corner; clip means intermediate at least one of said end panels and said rear wall operable to engage one with the other; and clip means intermediate said front wall and said bracket operable to engage one with the other.

THOMAS O. MARINI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,706,028 Johnson Mar. 19, 1929 1,807,352 Tanger May 26, 1931 1,941,127 Blackman Dec. 26, 1933 2,005,808 Smith June 25, 1935 2,040,003 Jorgensen May 5, 1936 

